WEBVTT
CAROLYN CALLAHAN REPORTS.
>> [ COUGHING ]
>> REPORTER: IT'S A PROBLEM
NATIONWIDE, AND KENTUCKY ISN'T
IMMUNE.
CASES OF WHOOPING COUGH, OR
"PERTUSSIS" AS IT'S MEDICALLY
CALLED, ARE ON THE RISE.
>> THESE ARE CASES THAT HAVE
BEEN REPORTED AND INVESTIGATED.
THERE COULD BE OTHERS OUT THERE
AND WE'RE DOING ACTIVE
SURVEILLANCE, DOING A LOT MORE
WITH THE LABORATORIES TO LOOK
FOR THE CASES OF PERTUSSIS.
>> REPORTER: DATA COLLECTED BY
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
SHOW THERE HAVE BEEN NEARLY 450
CASES OF WHOOPING COUGH IN
KENTUCKY THIS YEAR, UP FROM 163
CASES IN 2015.
SINCE AUGUST, THERE HAVE BEEN 10
CASES IN LOUISVILLE, AND HEALTH
OFFICIALS SAY MOST OF THOSE ARE
CHILDREN GETTING SICK FROM
ADULTS.
>> DON'T LET ANYBODY COUGH
AROUND YOUR CHILD, ESPECIALLY IF
THAT COUGH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR
TWO WEEKS OR MORE.
YOU NEED TO GET TESTS FOR
PERTUSSIS.
>> REPORTER: THE DISEASE SPREADS
EASILY AND SOMETIMES STARTS OUT
LIKE A NORMAL COLD BUT
PROGRESSES TO CAUSE VIOLENT
COUGHING FITS IN CHILDREN.
>> IN INFANTS, PERTUSSIS
USUALLY PRODUCES A WHOOP WHICH
IS WHY IT'S CALLED WHOOPING
COUGH, AND THEN THEY STOP
BREATHING.
>> REPORTER: MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS SAY THE VACCINE
DOESN'T STAY IN YOUR SYSTEM
FOREVER; BOOSTERS ARE NEEDED,
BUT MANY ADULTS DON'T FOLLOW UP